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Why eyeglasses are so expensive

I haven't bought a pair in a while forgot how expensive they are. Stumbled across this quite an eye opener (pun intended).

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=voUiWO...v%3DvoUiWOGv8ec

Wow, that's really fucked up. A pair of glasses with lenses for me is about $350. Contacts would run me almost $500

"not available in your country".
Why are they supposedly so expensive?

quote:

Originally posted by itsamemario "not available in your country". Why are they supposedly so expensive?

one company (luxottica) makes practically all name brand frames and own two of the largest retailer chains.

In other words the Walmart of eyewear, but the lenses issue is another thing. It's just plastic. They know people need them and will pay.

edit: also interesting to point out is luxottica owns a very big insurance company. They're are a huge conglomerate.

They're expensive because being blind, falling over and hitting things with a vehicle are more expensive.

quote:

Originally posted by Syntonic In other words the Walmart of eyewear, but the lenses issue is another thing. It's just plastic. They know people need them and will pay. edit: also interesting to point out is luxottica owns a very big insurance company. They're are a huge conglomerate.

the manufacturing process behind getting glass and plastic to the standard of being able to use it as a lens is expensive though, the quality standards that need to be in play along with the machining, percentage of rejected material etc. It is getting a lot more expensive to run machines these days with the new structure of the power system

If you can make a pair of prescription glasses last a few years, it'll be more cost effective/year, over contact lenses. Plus, contact lens eye exams cost more.

quote:

Originally posted by citric_acid the manufacturing process behind getting glass and plastic to the standard of being able to use it as a lens is expensive though, the quality standards that need to be in play along with the machining, percentage of rejected material etc.

Only "high index" lenses are expensive. They're basically a lighter/thinner version of a conventional, stronger lens.

I forgot to mention the high index lenses, I have a really bad astigmatism in my left eye. You would think millions of people needing glasses would somehow lower the cost but the market is cornered.

i order online. The lenses cost nothing and the frames are about 1/10 the cost for the same thing you would pay at a store. I would say the whole insurance - medicine racket has alot to do with it.

Most people are covered.

Just get the serial from the store and get the item online.

Just ordered a new pair a on thursday. 50� for the pair of lenses and 150� for the frames. Quite a lot for what is basically a bit pf plastic and wire.

Glasses are 60 bucks in China.

quote:

Originally posted by Dykes_on_Jay Glasses are 60 bucks in China.

And it turns out that Americans are angry by being undersold by the Chinese.

I'm guessing many of those lenses are still being made in China, making the markup even higher.

quote:

Originally posted by Dykes_on_Jay I'm guessing many of those lenses are still being made in China, making the markup even higher.

Touche

quote:

Originally posted by Jon_Snow one company (luxottica) makes practically all name brand frames and own two of the largest retailer chains.

This explains why every single frame seems to come from Italy: Both Luxottica and Safilo (the 2nd place) come from Northern Italy.

But lack of competition doesn't seem to be a good argument in isolation, otherwise Safilo would have much to gain from operating with smaller profit margins and making its own retailers more popular, no?

I can't watch the video, so I don't know if they even addressed this issue.

They write "Made in Italy" on everything here too

"Recent criticism has come upon the high prices of Luxottica's luxury brand named glasses, such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, and several others. A 2012 60 Minutes segment focused on whether the company's extensive holdings in the industry were used to keep prices high. Luxottica owns not only a large portfolio of brands such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, but retailers like Sunglass Hut and Oliver Peoples, as well as the optical departments at Target and Sears. In addition, by owning the vision insurance company EyeMed, it controlled a portion of the buyers' side of the market as well. [23] CEO Guerra claimed Luxottica did indeed have competitors at the retail level in the American market, such as Walmart, Costco, and Warby"

Oakley had pricing disagreement with them and luxottica dropped them from their stores. Shortly after Oakley decided to sell their company to them. No one is going to buy your glasses if the can't try the on.

Is YouTube blocked outside of the USA?

quote:

Originally posted by Jon_Snow Is YouTube block outside of the USA?

Just some channels due to copyright bollockery

quote:

Originally posted by Dykes_on_Jay They write "Made in Italy" on everything here too

Oh, so that's why

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